The Pakistani media kept its focus
on the dissolution and re-organizing of the MQM`s Co-ordination Committee and
KTC (Karachi Tanzeemi Committee) from its Quaid Mr. Altaf Hussain immediately
after the 11 May, 2013. Analysts expressed their views on this matter from
different angles. Some called it MQM`s internal conflicts; other declared it as
the result of the PTI`s emergence as a new competitor in Karachi; while a few
considered it as mainly a routine internal re-organization.
In the elections 2013, MQM has almost
retained all of its national and provincial seats (except NA-250 and its
relevant two Provincial seats PS-112,PS-113 where it partially boycotted the re-polling
only in 43 polling stations). Moreover, it also got one additional NA seat
(NA-239) and three new PS seats (PS-1, Ps-90 and PS-128). Thus, as per the
election results 2013, over all MQM`s performance was good. However,
the analysts seem to be ignoring the overall performance of the most important
political party PTI in the recent elections. PTI was claiming to bring about a
Tsunami for making a clean sweep throughout the country, but it could manage to
get only 28 seats in the National Assembly out of 272 that constitutes only
10.29.% showing its very poor performance.
Traditionally, the opposition
parties always get the benefit of their position by maligning the government
parties on genuine or non-genuine issues in the country. Especially in a
country like Pakistan, they have nothing to do except criticizing the
government in order to fertilize the political ground for their own government
in future. That was exactly what was done in the last five years. As a result,
the political ground had become very favorable for all the opposition parties
including PML-N, JI, JUI-F and PTI in comparison to PPP, ANP and MQM. Moreover,
the threats and the resulting attacks from Taliban on the formal coalition
parties had greatly reduced the possibility of their notable success in the election.
In addition to these positive
aspects, PTI was having some more benefits in the elections. It was having a
previously untested leadership, and had mainly focused the youth and the voters
who had kept off the election process for years. Moreover, its zealous election
campaign, expensive advertisements and the over whelming presence of PTI
supporters on social media had increased the possibilities of its huge success
over the others. In this way, of all the opposition parties, PTI was in the
best position to cash in on the prevailing scenario and turn it into its
victory. But, surprisingly, PTI showed a very low performance in response to the
expectations from it. It managed to get only 28 seats in the National Assembly
in comparison to its only competitor PML-N which easily got 144. Although PTI
leveled the allegation of rigging in the elections, but IK`s demand of
recounting only in 25 seats of Punjab indicates the confession of his political
defeat there. The results of the PTi`s performance not only surprised several
political analysts, but also shocked its supporters.
As per the election commission,
the turnout was 55%. The question is, what about the still remaining 45% of the
voters who did not cast their votes? Why did they not come out to vote for
PTI`s change? Were they still waiting for a new leadership other than Imran
Khan? If one take into account all these things, will he/she not raise a big
question mark on the performance of PTI? Is the PTI leadership unaware of this very
crucial aspect?
It is fact that PTI has got the
second highest votes in the country, yet securing only 28 national assembly
seats was not according to its clearly set objective. The question is, why does
PTI leadership look to be relatively content on its performance as is apparent
from the statements of its leaders who are declaring it an outstanding
performance? Should IK not critically assess the performance of its officer
bearers and workers in the most crucial “match”, i.e., elections 2013? When,
MQM`s Quaid, despite its quite satisfactory performance in the elections, can
seriously decides to re-organize its top cadre of the leadership, what is PTI waiting
for? Imran Khan has played all of its cards, what does he have for the new
elections now?
If PTI is still contemplating to use
the same slogan of change in order to attract the Pakistani public in the
future elections, then it would be living in a fool`s paradise as it will have
neither the fertilized political ground like 2013 again in future, nor would it
remain an untested party anymore. Furthermore, it has formed its government in
KPK. Now, it would have to deliver in order to meet the people`s expectations
that had gone very high due to the Captain`s claims. When MQM, despite having
had neither its own CM nor the ministry of Interior to restore peace especially
in Karachi, can be held equally responsible for whatever happened in the
country, then how can PTI avoid the responsibility of especially the killings
from suicide and drone attacks in KPK? Does the PTI`s “Kaptan” have the answer
to this question that will decide his fate as well?
No comments:
Post a Comment